Brush head and handle lock



y 18, 1955 J. J. M CRINK 3,183,540

BRUSH HEAD AND HANDLE LOCK Filed Nov. 1, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 8

Joseph J McCrink 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,183,540 BRUSH HEAD AND HANDLE 06K Joseph J.McCrink, 16 Moore Terrace, West Orange, NJ. Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No.234,739 6 Claims. (Cl. -145) The present invention relates to animproved brackettype brush head and handle lock or retainer and thecombination therewith of a handle-equipped implement, for example, aheavy duty push-type broom which is used for vigorously sweeping andcleaning diificult-tdclean pavements, floors and the like.

Stated somewhat more particularly the invention pertains to a retainerwhich lends itself to use on and in conjunction with a brush head whichhas a socket therein for reception and retention of the shank portion ofa leading or forward end of an elongated push-pull handle. It is commonin the art to provide the socket with screwthreads and the shank of thehandle with cooperating threads to thus assist in thus providing areasonably reliable joint. However, and in many push-type brooms andbrushes in this field of endeavor the head or so-called back of theelongated brush is made of wood and the handle is likewise made of wood.Consequently, it is not infrequent that the handle will break and haveto be replaced. When a screwthreaded socket and the shank is usedbetween the head and handle to make the separable connection the threadssoon loosen and consequently the handle becomes accidentally displacedand incapable of satisfactorily serving the needs of the user.

Persons conversant with the art to which the invention relates are awarethat various types of brackets, stabiliz ing braces and locks andretainers have been devised with a view toward preventing the handlefrom loosening and twisting and turning relative to the head. Because ithas a general bearing on this aspect of the instant invention referencemay be made to Patent 2,815,990 or" December 10, 1957, granted to me.Many other similar handle reinforcing and retaining attachments havebeen devised and offered for use but apparently have not met with widespread adoption and use. It follows that it is an object in the instantmatter to structurally, functionally and in other appreciated ways toimprove upon prior art handle retainers, including, for example, theabove identified Patent 2,815,990.

In carrying out the present invention the unique brackettype retaines isgenerally U-shaped in form and, more explicitly, is horseshoe-shaped inappearance. Thus constructed the retainer provides a pair of legs whichstraddle the portion of a handle which extends between the legs, thefree or terminal end portions of the legs terminating in laterally benthook-like fingers which engage over an edge or shoulder portion of thebrush head for reliable anchorage.

To the ends desired the median or bight portion of the retainer isprovided with a screw threaded hole to accommodate the setscrew whichcan be loosened or tightened as circumstances require. More explicitly,the binding end of the setscrew is desirable in that it is pointed andmay be embedded in the wood of the handle in such a way that undesirableaxial turning, twisting and unscrewing of the handle is prevented.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying illustrativedrawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views;

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a handleequipped heavy dutytype of brush or push-pull broom which is equipped with a novel typehorseshoe-like brace Patented May I8, 1955 "ice and retainer constructedin accordance with the invention and illustrating how it is applied andused;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View on the transverse sectionline 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the retainer by itself;

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of the retainer or lock basically likethe one illustrated in FIG. 3 but showing a modified form thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the vertical line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of a third modification;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the vertical section line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a View in perspective showing the component parts of theretainer of FIGURE 6 exploded and separated from each other;

FIGURE 9 is a view in perspective showing a fourth modification;

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line 19-10 of F1 URE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view in perspective showing a fifth modified form of theinvention; and

FIGURE 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of FIG- URE 11.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it will be seenthat the disclosure embodies five embodiments or forms of the genericconcept. Therefore, and generically speaking, all of the embodiments arecharacterized by a U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped bracket characterized byduplicate spaced generally parallel limbs or legs having free endportions with terminal anchoring hooks, and wherein the bight portionhas a screw-threaded hole to accommodate the screw-threaded shank of asetscrew, the inner handle engaging end of the setscrew being pointed tobe embedded in the wood of the handle.

Taking up first FIGS. 1 to 3 and with reference to FIG. 1 the numeral 14designates a conventional-type sweepers push broom or brush having arigid elongated semi-cylindrical head 16 provided on its bottom side 18with tufts of bristles 20. The overhanging lengthwise edges 22 and 24constitute shoulders. The median portion of the head or, alternatively,backing is provided with divergent duplicate selectively usablescrew-threaded sockets 2.6 and 28. The handle, which is of elongatedterm, is denoted generally at 39 and embodies a leading end pent-ion 32terminating in a reduced screw-threaded shank 34 which is screwed intothe socket 26 in the manner shown.

The bracket-type retainer or look is preferably of onepiece rigid metalform and it is here denoted, as an enti ty, by the numeral 36 and, asalready suggested, is of U-shaped form and consequently represents asort a horseshoe. The two limbs 38 are designed and adapted to straddlethe cooperating end portion 32 of the handle and when used with the backor head construction 16 shown in FIG. 2 these legs are curvedlongitudinally and conform in part to the convex surface as denoted at49. The free end portions of the legs are widened and flattened, that istransformed from circular cross-section to non-circular substantiallyrectangular cross-section as denoted at 42. The laterally bent flattenedtips 44 constitute anchoring and stabilizing hooks which engage nicelyand securely over the edge or shoulder 22 in the manner illustrated. Thebight portion is preferably flattened as at 46 and provided with ascrew-threaded hole 48. The hole 48 serves to accommodate thescrew-threaded shank of the setscrew 50. The inner end of the shankbetween the limbs is pointed at. 52 and is designed and adapted to embeditself in the wooden handle in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 so thatwhen the screw is amply tightened accidental turn-ing or twisting of thehandle is virtually eliminated. The outwardly projecting end portion ofthe setscrewis fashioned into a suitable finger-gripping andscrew-turning eye 54. V g

It will .be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the curved bight portionarches over the portionof the handle which is bridged thereby, wherebythe legs straddle diametricaL ly opposite sides and depend to a pointthat the anchoring books 44 may be engaged with a shoulder 22. Manifestly, upon tightening of the setscrew the retainer is securelyharnessed in place. Accordingly, the joint between the shank 34 andsocketed portion of the head 16 legs which likewise straddle the handleare denoted at 58 and the web or connecting bight portion 60 is providedwith a lateral reinforcing lip or flange 62 having a screw.- threadedhole. 64 (PG. 5) for reception and retention of the screw-threaded shank'66 which has a pointed handle penetrating inner end 68 and afingergripping eye 70. If desired the setscrew in this instance may beprovided with a safety locknut 7 2 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The medianportions of the legs. are bent at '74 and the teruninals laterally bentat 76 to provide hook-like anchoing fingers which function in the mannerof the aforementioned fingers 44. 1 Instead of using the one-piececonstruction of FIGS. 3 and 4 it is within the purview of the inventionto use a multi-pant construction which is covered in the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive. With reference to FIG. 8 thelegs or limbs are denoted at 76, median portions being bent at 7 8 toprovide lateral offset portions 80 having right angular terminal bends82 which constitute hook-like anchoring fingers designed and adapted toserve as the alreadyv mentioned fingers 44 and 76, respectively. Theupper ends of the limbsare also bent laterally as at 84 and these bentportions are fitted into the space 86 between the parallel flanges 88 ofthe assembling sheath. The bent portion of the sheath is denoted at 90and the flanges are provided with screw-threaded holes 92 which registerwith the screw-threaded hole 94 in the space filling cleat 96. The cleatwhen fitted into the space assists in separating the conneotible tonguesor bent portions 84. Here again a setscrew 98 is provided, the samehaving a pointed end 100 and a fingergripping eye 102.

The form of modification illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 resembles in bothstructure and appearance the two forms of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 6, respectively. In this modification, FIGS. 9 and 10, theretainer as an entity is denoted by the numeral 104 and again 15 madefirom cast or stamped sheet metal of requisite strength. Theconstruction is likewise in resemblance of a U-shaped horseshoe so thatthe legs or limbs may straddle the handle in the manner-alreadydescribed. In this form of the. invention the duplicate legs are denotedat 106 and the laterally bent portions at 1678, the latter portionterminating in laterally bent ends 110 which constitute the desiredanchoring hooks. Here the bight portion between the legs or limbs isdenoted at 112 and is rigidified and reinforced by cooperating laterallybent flanges 114 and 116 bent and disposed in overlapping relationshipas at 18. The screw-threaded hole 129 serves to accommodate thescrew-threaded shank 122 of the setscrew. The pointed end of thesetscrew is denoted at 24 and the eye-equipped end portion is denoted at26. i

In all the forms of the invention described the hookeqmppedlegs or limbsare fixed in relationto the adjoin- 4 ing bight portion. However, thereare instances wherein adjustability of the legs or limbs is desirable.To take care of this requirement a four-part bracket of general U-shapedform isutilized. In this arrangement the limbs or legs are denoted at126 and have median bent portions 128 and laterally bent free end orterminal portions 130 vwhich constitute shoulder-engaging and anchoringhooks.

The bracket here under-consideration is designated as a unit by thenumeral 132 and the bight portion comprises a relatively small anglemember with a flange 134 and a complemental depending flange 136 thefirst-named flange having a screw-threaded hole 138 to accommodate theshank 140 of the setscrew. Here again the shank has a pointed inner end142 and a turning eye 144. To the left and right of the screw-threadedhole 38 additional screwthreaded holes 146 are provided to accommodatethe screw-threaded shank portions 148 of the legs 126 The legs 126 inthis form of the invention resemble the similarly constructed legs 38 ofFIG. 3 in that the legs are made from circular rod stock with the freeend portions flattened and fashioned into anchoring hooks. vHowever thesignificant feature in this adaptation has todo with the adjustableconnection between the legs 126 and; the connecting bight portionwhereby to permit theterminal hooks 130 to be adjusted toward and fromsaid bight portion.

It is believed that the illustration of this horseshoetype fastener andretainer as it appears in FIGS. 1 and 2 will suflice to show how all ofthe retainers are intended to be used.

Minor changes in shape, size, "materials and rearrangement of componentparts may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in conjunction with a heavy duty type pushpull broom of atype which has a block-like head which is semicylindrical with a convexsidefacing upwardly, wherein said head is provided intermediate its endsand on at least one side with a screw-threaded socket receiving thescrew-threaded attachable and detachable end of an elongated push-pullhandle; a handle reinforcing and securing bracket comprising a onepiecemember which is horseshoe-shaped and embodies a bight portion and legportions, the leg portions having free ends and said ends beinglaterally bent, the legs being circular in cross-section and thelaterally bentv ends being flattened ,to provide hooked grips, said legportions being longitudinally bowed and in opposite spaced-apartrelationship and said bight portion being flattened and provided withascrew-threaded lfiole, and a setscrew having a shank threaded into saidole.

2. A handle reinforcing and securing bracket comprising ahorseshoe-shaped member embodying a bight portion adapted to bridge overa cooperating surfaceof a handle in spaced relation, the median portionof saidbight portion being fiat and provided with a screw-threaded hole,and a pair of duplicate leg portions havinglikeends connected by saidbight portion, said leg portions being adapted to straddle diametricallyopposite left and right sides of said handle in spaced relation, saidleg portions having free terminal ends which are correspondingly andlaterally bentand then flattened to providehook-shaped grips, said gripsadapted to engage a shoulder portion of the head of a push-pull broom,said leg portions being bowed lengthwise and shaped to conforminglyfirmly reside against cooperating underlying surfaces of said broomhead, and a setscrew' having a screw-threaded shank screwed through saidhole, said shank having a pointed terminal end portion locatedwhenin'use. midway between the adjacent end portions of, said leg portions.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 and wherein said shank. portionis'provided withia lock nut adapted to be jammed and locked against acooperating surface of the flattened part of said bight portion,andbeing further provided at an accessible end with a fingergripping andturning eye.

4. The structure according to claim 2 and wherein said member is made ofone piece of rigid sheet material the component parts of which arerectangular in cross-section and accordingly flat-faced, said bightportion having an integral flange superimposed thereon and correspondingin length and width and having a screw-threaded hole aligned with thefirst-named screw-threaded hole.

5. In combination, a surface cleaning implement of the push broom typeembodying an elongated block-like rigid head which is generallysemicylindrical in cross-section and provided with a convex upwardlyfacing side, said head provided intermediate its respective transverseends on one longitudinal side with an oblique angled screwthreadedsocket, an angular elongated push-pull handle having a screw-threadedend screwed into said socket, and a handle-reinforcing and securingbracket horseshoeshaped in form and embodying a bight portion bridgingan upper peripheral surface portion of the attachable end portion ofsaid handle and spaced therefrom and projecting beyond diametricallyopposite sides of the attachable end portion and joined with a pair ofspaced coplanar depending legs, said legs being rigid and havingportions thereof conforming in shape and residing in firm contact withunderlying surfaces of coacting convex portions of said head, said legshaving free end portions laterally bent and engaging a longitudinal edgeportion of said head, a setscrew having a fingergrip at an upper end anda screw-threaded shank threaded through a hole provided therefor in themedian part of said bight portion, the terminal end of said shank beingpointed and embedded in a surface of said handle in a manner to guardagainst undesirable axial turning of the handle in said socket andrelative to said head, said bracket being generally U-shaped inelevation, and said head being provided with surface brushing bristles.

6. For use in conjunction with a push-pull broom having abristle-equipped head provided with a screw-threaded socket forreception and retention of a screw-threaded shank on a detachable handlefor said head; a handle reinforcing and securing bracket comprising abight portion and cooperating leg portions, said bight portioncomprising a one-piece angle member having a straight flange "providedalong one longitudinal edge with a depending reinforcing flange, saidstraight flange being provided intermediate its ends with ascrew-threaded hole, a setscrew having gripping means at one end and ascrew-threaded shank at the other end screwed through said hole, saidfirst-named flange being provided at its respective ends with additionalscrew-threaded holes, said leg portions embodying individual legs madefrom rod stock and having free end portions which are flattened toprovide anchoring hooks engageable with the shoulder portion of theaforementioned brush head, the ends of the leg portions adjacent saidbight portion having screw-threaded shanks screwed through andadjustably mounted in the aforementioned additional screw-threaded hole,said legs being bent in lengthwise axial directions so that when in usethey reside firmly atop underlying cooperating surfaces of the brushhead.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,946 5/73Smith.

1,124,283 l/15 Brophy.

1,459,582 6/23 Dubee.

FOREIGN PATENTS 105,793 11/38 Australia. 216,283 12/56 Australia.836,285 10/38 France. 274,656 5/ 14 Germany. 324,141 8/20 Germany.212,140 3 24 Great Britain. 784,813 10/57 Great Britain.

CHARLES A. WILMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1. FOR USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A HEAVY DUTY TYPE PUSHPULL BROOM OF ATYPE WHICH HAS A BLOCK-LIKE HEAD WHICH IS SEMICYLINDRICAL WITH A CONVEXSIDE FACING UPWARDLY, WHEREIN SAID HEAD IS PROVIDED INTERMEDIATE ITSENDS AND ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE WITH A SCREW-THREADED SOCKET RECEIVING THESCREW-THREADED ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLE END OF AN ELONGATED PUSH-PULLHANDLE; A HANDLE REINFORCING AND SECURING BRACKET COMPRISING A ONEPIECEMEMBER WHICH IS HORSESHOE-SHAPED AND EMBODIES A BIGHT PORTION AND LEGPORTIONS, THE LEG PORTIONS HAVING FREE ENDS AND SAID ENDS BEINGLATERALLY BENT, THE LEGS BEING CIRCULAR IN CROSS-SECTION AND THELATERALLY BENT ENDS BEING FLATTENED TO PROVIDE HOOKED GRIPS, SAID LEGPORTIONS BEING LONGITUDINALLY BOWED AND IN OPPOSITE SPACED-APARTRELATIONSHIP AND SAID BIGHT PORTION BEING FLATTENED AND PROVIDED WITH ASCREW-THREADED HOLE, AND SETSCREW HAVING SHANK THREADED INTO SAID HOLE.